Feeler stop-motion for automatic looms.



PATENTED APR. 10, 1906. J. A. PERKINS 5: A. A. ST. LAURENT. FEELER STOPMOTION FOR AUTOMATIC LOOMS.

APPLICATION IILED IU'LYZO. 1905.

5 4 N 7 1 8 mm N UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. PERKINS ANI) AIME A. ST. LAURENT, OF SALEM, MASSACHU- SETTS,ASSIGNORS TO DRAPER COMPANY, OF HOPEDALE, MASSA- CHUSETTS, A CORPORATIONOF MASSACHUSETTS.

FEELER STOP-MOTION FOR AUTOMATIC LOOIVIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 10, 1906.

Application filed July 20, 1905. Serial No. 270,497.

To (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN A. PERKINS and AIME A. ST. LAURENT, citizensof the United States, and residents of Salem, county of Essex, State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Feelr Stop-Motions forAutomatic Looms, of which the following description, in connection withthe accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters and figureson the drawings representing like parts.

Looms provided withfilling-exhaustion-indicating means are frequentlytermed feelenlooms, for the reason that a feeler is provided tointermittingly engage the filling in the running shuttle, and when apredeten mined exhaustion of the filling is attained the feeler causesthe operation of an instrumentality which usually is arranged to effect;automatically a change or replenishment offilling. When the feelerdetects the proper degree of filling exhaustion, a filling-replenishingmechanism is thereupon set or posi tioned for operation on the nextforward beat, of the lay provided the shuttle is properly boxed at thereplenishing side of the loom. A shuttle-feeler is generally provided topre' vent the operation of the replenishing mechanism if the shuttle isnot properly boxed, and as such shuttle-feelers frequently carry athread-cutting device to sever the old thread between the cloth and theshuttle the thread may be cut when the shuttle-feeler engages theimproperly-boxed shuttle. In such case the shuttle containing the oldfilling-carrier might be picked to the non-replenishing box, laying nofilling, the feeler would again detect substantial exhaustion offilling, and the shuttle would return to the replenishing-box, and ifthen properly boxed the replenishing mechanism would operate, but twoempty picks would occur, and a thin place in the cloth would result. Ofcourse the usual protector mechanism would operate if the shuttle shouldbe far enough out of the replenishing'box; but often in practice theshuttle-feeler can engage the shuttle and prevent filling-replenishingwhen the shuttle is not so far out but that it will be thrown across onthe next pick, with the result above stated. Even should thethread-cutter fail to cut the filling-thread as above described theremight not be enough filling remaining in the shuttle to lay two picks,and a thin place would be madein the cloth before filling replenishmentcould be effected. In both of the cases noted it will be manifest thatthe loom should be stopped on the second. successive detection offilling exhaustion by the feeler, for then the attendant has at mostonly two faulty picks to correct.

The present invention accordingly relates to feeler-looms; and it hasfor its object the production of means whereby stoppage of the loom willbe effected. automatically by or through two successive detections bythe feeler of substantial exhaustion of filling in the running shuttle.

The various novel features of the invention will be fully described inthe subjoined specificatiomand particularly pointed out in the followingclaims.

Figure l is a top plan view, broken out centrally and at the sides, of asufficient portion of an automatic feeler-loom to be understood, withone embodiment of the present invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is anenlarged transverse sectional detail on the line 2 2, Fig. 1, lookingtoward the right with the parts in normal position. Fig. 3 is a similarview, but showing the change in relative position of some of the partswhen two successive detections have been made by the feeler and Fig. 4is a sectional detail on the line 4 4, Fi 3.

Iteferring to Fig. 1, the breast-beam A lay A", having anon-replenishing shuttle-box B, its front wall having a feeler-opening bthe shipper N, its notched holding-plate N and the knock-oil lever a torelease the shipper, and thereby effect the stoppage of the loom by asuitable instrumentality, (not shown) and the filling-replenishingmechan ism, partly shown at the right, Fig. 1, and comprising the hopperF, transferrer and controlling rock-shaft d, may be and are allsubstantially as in United States Patent No. 677,607, dated July 2,1901. So, too, the I6el61'LI'1Tlf f fulcrumed at a and having awear-plate 90, the feelerpropenf to intermittingly pass through theopening b in the front wall of the shuttle-box B and enter the shuttlethrough a slot in its side to periodically engage and be moved by thefi1ling in the running shuttle until such filling is substantiallyexhausted are substantially as in said patent.

The filling-fork m its slide m, and the weft-hammer W, adapted tocooperate in usual manner with the fork-tail and move the slide outwardupon detection of failure of filling to operate the knock-off lever 71/p and thereby release the shipper, are all of usual construction.

An upturned arm (i fast on the rock-shaft d, has pivotally connectedwith it the outer end of a latch d whose rear end d is adapted to attimes be engaged by a hunter w (see Figs. 2 and 3) on the head w of theweft-hammer at one side of the guide for the fork-slide m, a projectionw on the head w cooperating intermittingly with a cam face d on thelatch, and the plate 90 is moved beneath the overhanging shoulder d onthe latch by a spring to maintain the latch end d in the path of thehunter w all in a manner familiar to those skilled in the art.Filling-induced movement of feelerf withdraws plate 90, and the latchend 61 drops below the bunter-path as the weft-hammer swings forward,and on its backward swing the projection w cooperates with cam-face dand lifts the latch to permit the plate 90 to again pass under theshoulder cl", all substantially as in United States Patent No. 720,209,dated February 10, 1903. When the filling in the shuttle is exhausted toa predetermined extent, the feeler will not be moved sufficiently towithdraw the plate 90 from the latch-shoulder and the latch (1 will bemoved outward by the wefthammer, and through the rockshaft (1 thereplenishing mechanism is set or positioned in readiness to be operatedon the next forward beat of the lay, provided the shuttle is properlyboxed in the shuttle-box B at the replenishing side of the loom. Asshown in Fig. 1, a portion of a shuttle-feeler Y is arranged to preventthe operation of the replenishing mechanism if the shuttle should beslightly out of the replenishing-box B as at S, (see dotted lines, Fig.1,) and in practice the shuttle-feeler is frequently provided with adevice to cut or part the old fillingthread between the cloth and theshuttle at time of filling replenishment.

In accordance with the present invention a dog 1 is fulcrumed at 2 oncars 3, upturned on the latch d, the front end of the dog beingdownturned at 4 and preferably notched, as at 5, Figs. 2 and 3, to attimes cooperate with the arm n of the knock-off lever. A rest 6 isadjustably secured on the dog by a set-screw 7 and projects beneath itto normally en age and rest upon a cam 8, formed on a sli e 9,

mounted on an undercut rib 10, longitudinally extended on the top of thelatch d, (see Fig. 4,) the slide 9 having a lateral lug 11 to at timesengage an upright fixed pin or stud 12, as will be explained. Asetting-finger 13 is also secured to the weft-hammer, the upper end ofthe finger being arran ed to set the slide 9 if the operation of thefilling-replenishing mechanism is effected after the first indication bythe feeler that the running filling is exhausted to a predeterminedpoint. Under normal conditions the cam 8 supports the rest 6, as in Fig.2, and the outer depending end 4 of the dog is held up so as to clearthe knock-off-lever arm n if the latch d is moved forward, as it will bewhen substantial filling exhaustion is indicated by the feeler. As thelatch is then moved forward it carries with it the slide 9 until the lug11 hits the pin 12, stopping the slide, while the continued forwardmovement of the latch carries the rest 6 awayfrom the cam 8, permittingthe dog to drop, so that its end 4 will rest upon the knock-off arm M,as shown in Fig. 3. The arm (Z also turns the rock-shaft d, and thereplenishing mechanism is set or positioned in readiness to operate, andif the shuttle is properly boxed in box B the filling Will be changed orreplenished, and as the latch returns to normal position it will carrywith it the slide 9, the end 4 of the dog dropping behind the knock-offlever. On the following forward swing of the weft-hammer thesetting-finger 13 engages the rear end of the slide 9 and pushes itforward along the latch until the cam 8 engages the rest 6 and lifts itand the dog 1 to normal position, Fig; 2, the parts then being set inreadiness for another operation when required. If, however, after thefirst outward movement of the latch the replenishing mechanism shouldnot operateas, for instance, because of engagement of the shuttle by theshuttlefeeler Ythe shuttle would probably be picked across to box B andthe feeler f X would again indicate filling exhaustion. The latch clhaving moved inward would be moved outward a second time, owing to thetwo successive indications of the feeler, and the notched part 5 of thedog then being behind and engaging the arm n the second outward movementof the latch will turn the knock-0E leverand release the shipper toeffect stoppage of the loom. After the fault has been corrected by theweaver and the loom started the cam 8 and rest 6 are again caused tocooperate, as before described, and the parts are then restored tonormal condition. seen that if predetermined filling exhaustion isindicated twice in succession by the feeler the loom will be stoppedautomatically, so'

that a feeler knock-off is thereby provided and the production of thinplaces in the cloth from the causes referred to is prevented.

The invention is not restricted to the particular construction andarrangement herein shown and described, for various changes ormodifications may be made by those skilled in the art Without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention herein disclosed.

It will thus be I-Iaving fully described our invention, what We claim asnew, and. desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a loom provided with automatic filling-replenishing mechanism, incombination,

a feeler to intermittingly engage the filling in l the running shuttle,means controlled by said feeler to normally effect the operation of saidmechanism when the filling has been substantially exhausted, and meansadapted to effect the actuation of a stopping instrumentality upon twosuccessive indications of filling exhaustion by the feeler'without,filling replenishment.

2. In a loom, mechanism to indicate predetermined exhaustion of thefilling in the running shuttle, a shipper, a releasing device therefor,and means to operate said device by or'through two successiveindications of filling exhaustion by said mechanism.

In a loom, mechanism to indicate predetermined exhaustion of the fillingin the running shuttle, said mechanism including a feeler tointermittingly engage the filling in the shuttle, a shipper, and meansto efi'ect release thereof by or through two successive indications ofthe feeler of substantial exhaustion of the filling.

4. In a loom, filling-exhaustion-indicating mechanism to indicatepredetermined ex haustion of the running filling, and means adapted toeffect the operation of a stopping instrumentality by or through twosuccessive indications of said mechanism.

5. In a loom, mechanism to indicate predetermined exhaustion of thefilling in the running shuttle, said mechanism including a feeler tointermittingly engage and be moved by the filling in the running shuttleuntil substantial exhaustion of such filling, and means adapted toeffect the operation of a stopping instrumentality by or through twosuccessive indications of filling exhaustion by the feeler.

6. In a loom provided with automatic filling-replenishing mechanism, incombination, a feeler to intermittingly engage the filling in therunning shuttle, means controlled by said feeler to normally e'llect theoperation of said mechanism when the filling has been substantiallyexhausted, means to prevent the operation of the replenishing mechanismwhen the shuttle is improperly positioned, a shipper, and means toeffect release thereof by or through a second indication of fillingexhaustion by the feeler following failure of the replenishing mechanismto operate.

7. In a-loom provided with automatic filling-replenishing mechanism,means, includ ing a feeler to intermittingly engage the filling in theshuttle, to normally cause the op eration of said mechanism uponsubstantial exhaustion of the running filling, a shipper, a releasingdevice therefor, and means to effect the operation of said device upon adouble detection of substantial exhaustion of filling by said feelerafter failure of the replenishing mechanism to operate.

8. In a loom provided with automatic filling-replerfishing mechanism,means, including a feeler to intermittingly engage the filling in theshuttle, to normally cause the operation of said mechanism uponsubstantial exhaustion of the running filling, a shuttle to contain asupply of filling, a shuttle-feeler to prevent filling replenishmentwhen the shut tle is improperly positioned therefor, and means adaptedto effect the operation of a stopping instrumentality by or through adouble detecting action of the filli1'1gfeeler upon prevention offilling replenishment.

9. In a loom, filling-exhaustionindicating mechanism, including afeele'r to intermittingly engage the filling in the running shut tle, ashipper, a knock-off lever therefor, a latch operatively moved by orthrough the feeler upon detection of substantial exhaustion of filling,a dog carried by said latch, and means to cause the dog to cooperatewith and move the knock-off lever to release the shipper upon twosuccessive detections by the feeler that the filling is substantiallyexhausted.

10. In a loom, filling-exhaustionindicating mechanism, including afeeler intermittingly engaged and moved by the filling in the runningshuttle until substantial exhaustion of such filling, a shuttle tocontain a sup ply of filling, a shipper, and means to effect releasethereof by or through two successive indications of the feeler that thesame fillingsupply is substantially exhausted.

11. In a loom, filling-exhaustion-indicating mechanism, including afeeler to engage the filling in the running shuttle on alternatepicks,filling-replenishing mechanism adapted to operate upon substantialfilling exhaustion when detected by the feeler, a shipper, and means toeffect release thereof by or through detection of filling exhaustion bythe said feeler on two successive detectingpicks.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specificatioi'l inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN A. PERKINS. AIME A. ST. LAURENT.

Witnesses:

HENRY TADGIJLL, FREDERICK E. VVAnNnn.

